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The Legislative Process: SB 136 Passes the House

March 25, 2013

This is the third post in a 4-part series examining the process of introducing, debating, amending and voting on a bill. We’re working closely with the state Senate Press Office to follow Senate Bill 136, which addresses issues of public safety on waterways. Legislators filed SB 136 on Feb. 8.

After a unanimous vote in the Georgia State Senate, SB 136, which lowers the state's legal intoxication limit for boaters and hunters, moved on to the state House of Representatives. The House Game, Fish, and Parks Committee reviewed and favorably reported SB 136 on March 12.

Last Wednesday, the House reviewed the bill and paid tribute to the three children the legislation remembers. The "Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law" changes boating under the influence laws to match driving under the influence laws and increases penalties for those caught boating while drunk. Meanwhile, the “Kile Glover Boat Education Law” requires youth to enroll in free boating safety education courses. SB 136 also requires those 13-years-old and under to wear life jackets on moving boats.

To prevent hunting accidents, the bill additionally lowers the legal intoxication limit for hunters from 0.1 to .08.

The House passed the bill in a 146-17 vote. Representatives made minor changes to the legislation, and so it now returns to the Senate for final passage.

Bills are often amended, debated and read again. After the Senate approves the amended bill, it will go to Governor Nathan Deal's desk to be signed into law. Check back with us as we continue to follow SB 136.

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